Main Street Elizabethton presents the final First Friday

Published 8:00 pm Friday, July 29, 2022

By Hannah Askew

Main Street Elizabethton hosts the final First Friday of 2022 this week.

From 5 to 10 p.m. downtown Elizabethton hosts a huge summer send-off featuring live music, extended shopping, local dining experiences, family-friendly activities, and more.

Florencia & The Feeling will be performing live on the Covered Bridge Stage from 7 to 9 p.m. along with numerous live music opportunities all throughout downtown. Several downtown restaurants and establishments including Jiggy Ray’s Downtown Pizzeria and Riverside Taphouse will be featuring live music as well.

“The Weekly Cruise-Ins and First Fridays have been very beneficial for us,” said Michael Springer, manager of Jiggy Ray’s.

Some of the participating food trucks at the Covered Bridge Park include Appalachian Ice, Trucky Cheese, and Sip Soda Shop. Downtown, The Coffee Company will be staying open until 7:30 p.m. for dinner.

At Simple Blessings, a downtown general store, children can get single-scoop 99-cent ice cream during their back-to-school sale. “We always get new people during the event. It brings new customers downtown,” said owner Rita Russell. “People have time to come in and browse, and there’s more time to walk around and enjoy. As far as new exposure, people from other areas and out-of-towners will come in. It also gives a chance for the ones who work during business hours,” she said.

Simple Blessings will also be displaying their new Simply Southern fall collection and a surplus of Ty stuffed toys.

First Fridays have promoted a boost in tourism in Elizabethton. “It brings people here. I always like to ask where people are from because we never really know, and it gives a chance for those people to find out about the local restaurants and shops,” said April Proffitt, owner of All Star Crafts.